What We Do

Current Initiatives

Vermont Library Freedom to Read Statement (January 2024)
https://vermontlibraries.org/vermont-library-freedom-to-read-statement

Vermont Library Association Marks Banned Books Week, Oct. 1-7 (October 2023)
https://vermontlibraries.org/vermont-library-association-marks-banned-books-week-oct-1-7

Vermont Library Association Statement of Support for ALA (September 2023)
https://vermontlibraries.org/vermont-library-association-statement-of-support-for-ala

Statement of Support for Toussaint St. Negritude and Bryn Hoffman of Cobleigh Public Library (July 2023)
https://vermontlibraries.org/statement-of-support-for-toussaint-st-negritude-and-bryn-hoffman-of-cobleigh-public-library

The 128th Vermont Library Conference “Be the Place: Libraries Are for Everyone” VLA & VSLA Joint Annual Conference (April 2023)
https://vermontlibraries.org/conference

Vermont Library Association 2023 Award Recipients (April 2023)
https://vermontlibraries.org/vermont-library-association-2023-award-recipients

VLA Statement Regarding Vermont State University Library Closures (February 2023)
https://vermontlibraries.org/vla-statement-regarding-vtsu-library-closures

Awards

Sarah C. Hagar Award – Awarded each year for outstanding service in or significant contribution to the field of librarianship in Vermont.

Green Mountain Award – Given as the opportunity arises to individuals or organizations for distinguished service, support, or unusual contributions to a Vermont library or libraries.

Trustee of the Year Award – Presented for outstanding achievement by a trustee on behalf of his or her library, either during the previous year or during his/her years of service.

Birdie Award – Bestowed biennially to a librarian who has provided outstanding service in the field of technical services in a Vermont Library.

Library Advocate of the Year Award – Conferred occasionally by the VLA Government Relations Committee to an outstanding public advocate for libraries in local, state, or national government.

Scholarships

Professional Development Grant – Up to $250 for a continuing education program such as an educational conference or an applicable course.

VLA Graduate Student Scholarship – Up to $1,500.00 to a qualified applicant pursuing an MLS, MLIS, or MSLIS degree.

Board Documentation

Constitution and Bylaws – The governing documents of the organization.

Strategic Plans – VLA maintains three-year strategic plans for the direction of the organizations and work to be done.

Leadership Directory – Who are your representatives on the board.

Board Position Descriptions – What are the responsibilities of each board members.

Board Resources – Catch-all page for things that don’t go anywhere else.

Annual Business Meeting Minutes – The annual meeting takes place at the Vermont Library Conference.

Board Meeting Minutes – VLA Board meets 5 times a year for regular meetings.

Board Retreat Minutes – VLA Board members meet every summer for a planning retreat.

Handbooks, Manuals, and Policies – Helpful documents for existing board members

Past Initiatives

Compensation Studies

2015Vermont Library Association 2015 Public Library Compensation Study

2012Vermont Library Association Personnel Committee Public Library Salary Survey 2012 final report

2009Increasing Public Library Compensation: a How-to Guide for Vermont Libraries 2009 revision.

2009 – Slides from Vermont Public Librarians’ Compensation: A Survey and a Toolkit (PDF, 212 KB) presented at the Vermont Library Conference, May 13, 2009.

2008 Recommended Minimum Salary for Public Library Directors adopted:October 2008

2008Salaries and Benefits: A Survey of Vermont Academic Librarians final report

2006Increasing Public Library Compensation: a How-to Guide for Vermont Libraries 2006 revision, originally published 2003.

John Swan Intellectual Freedom Lectures

2020Alison Macrina spoke about Privacy and the Internet of Things on June 4, 2020.

2018YouTube Video of Deborah Caldwell-Stone’s lecture, Privacy in an Age of Surveillance Capitalism given on April 12, 2018.

2016YouTube Video of Justin Peters‘s lecture, given at the O’Brien Community Center, Winooski VT on April 15, 2016.

2014YouTube Video of Dawn Sova‘s lecture, given at the Pavillion Auditorium, Montpelier VT on January 27, 2014.

2011Christopher Finan talks about his book, From the Palmer Raids to the Patriot Act: A History of Free Speech in America, in which he speaks about VLA being the first sign of hope in the fight against the USA PATRIOT act. Given at Sherburne Memorial Library, Killington, VT on August 25, 2011.

2005A New Vision of Citizenship For a Fast-Globalizing and Ecologically Challenged World by Laurie Lane-Zucker, given at Brooks Memorial Library, Brattleboro, VT on June 9, 2005

Legislative Breakfasts

2014Legislative Breakfasts Updated Materials

Patron Confidentiality

2006Survey of Vermont Library Directors Regarding Patron Confidentiality Policy & Practice by Trina Magi, Bailey/Howe Library, University of Vermont, conducted for the VLA by the Intellectual Freedom Committee

Policies & Codes

2013VLA Social Media Policy adopted: September, 2013

2002Vermont Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Code – a voluntary agreement to govern interlibrary loan (ILL) among libraries in the State of Vermont. Correlated with the Interlibrary Loan Code for the United States, this local code is intended to promote a liberal ILL policy among Vermont libraries.

Statements, Press Releases, Resolutions, Bills & Letters (Other)

2017Vermont Library Association Sustainability Resolution — Adopted May 10, 2017

2016Vermont Library Association Reacts to Department of Libraries FY 2017 Budget With Cautious Optimism and Gratitude — Released January 27, 2016

2015
Vermont Library Association College & Special Libraries Section Letter to the England Association of Schools and Colleges Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (NEASC-CIHE) Regarding the Revised Standards Draft — Released October 21, 2015

Vermont Library Association Letter to President Barack Obama Concerning the Next Librarian of Congress — Released October 16, 2015

Vermont Library Association Statement on Banned Books Week — Released October 5, 2015

Press Release on Cuts to the Department of Libraries — Released March 20, 2015

2014
VLA Statement on Unpaid Hours
  — Adopted December 11, 2014

VLA Statement on Rep. Paul Ryan’s Budget Proposal That Recommends Elimination of IMLS — Adopted April 8, 2014

Vinous Beverages In Libraries: Vermont House Bill H.385 & Senate Bill S.226

2006Resolution Concerning the Health Care Crisis in Vermont — Adopted January 12, 2006

1999VLA Statement on Internet Filtering — Adopted September 23, 1999

USA PATRIOT Act

2009Resolution on the 2009 Reauthorization of the USA PATRIOT Act adopted: September 15, 2009

2007 ALA Petition – USA PATRIOT Act vs. Reader Privacy

2002USA PATRIOT Act Letter adopted: October 21, 2002

We’re adding to this page all the time, especially archival materials. Please let us know if there’s something you’re not finding!

Last updated February 6, 2024.